The Latest Buzz About Bourbon Whiskey

Posts Tagged Maker’s Mark

There’s no better way to toast America’s birthday this 4th of July than with Maker’s Mark Kentucky straight bourbon whisky – a truly all American spirit. Located in Loretto, KY, the Maker’s Mark distillery is the world’s oldest operating bourbon whisky distillery and a National Historic Landmark.

Special for the holiday, Maker’s Mark is selling tri-packs with three 375 ml. bottles sealed in red, white and blue wax. These packs will be sold for a limited time only in select U.S. states and will retail for $29.99.

Maker’s Mark suggests making the following refreshing cocktails with your red, white and blue bottles for a memorable 4th of July barbecue and throughout the summer.

Yesterday’s release of the 2010 Keeneland Maker’s Mark bottle featuring UK basketball coach John Calipari was a slam dunk. Reports are that 24,000 bottles sold out everywhere in under 2 hours. There simply were not enough to meet the demand. Coach Cal and Maker’s Mark have decided to make 8,000 more of the bottles available. The catch is, they will be empty! They will feature the same design as the full bottles which sold out on Day One of sales. The only difference is that instead of the Surgeon General’s warning on the back label, there’s a message from the CFFC. The proceeds from these bottles will benefit The Calipari Family Foundation for Children to help better the lives of underprivileged children in Kentucky. The limited edition bottles are on sale now for $49.99 with free shipping anywhere in the continental United States. You can get order this bottle online directly from caliparifoundation.org

Why empty bottles? Maker’s Mark President/CEO Bill Samuels, Jr. said: “Cal’s foundation can now sell and ship them anywhere. With nothing inside there are no legal restrictions. Fans everywhere can get one and make a donation to his cause for kids. When Cal agreed to do our charitable bottle only available in Kentucky, he warned me about the nearly 1 million fans outside Kentucky that are not going to be happy. He was right.”

“Ellen and I would like to thank Bill Samuels, Maker’s Mark and Keeneland for making this special edition empty bottle to help support our Foundation. By not including alcohol in the bottles, we are able to ship these keepsakes all across the world and allow the Big Blue Nation to share in the commemoration of our first fabulous year in the Bluegrass,” Coach Calipari said.

The collaboration between Maker’s Mark and Keeneland, Kentucky’s world famous bourbon and its historic thoroughbred racetrack and sales company, respectively, could result in nearly $250,000 for the CFFC.

Watch the video below for more info about the Maker’s Calipari bottle.

A federal judge Friday agreed with the distiller of Maker’s Mark bourbon that the dripping red-wax seal on its bottles is the company’s exclusive property, the Associated Press reports.

U.S. District Judge John Heyburn in Louisville, Ky., issued an injunction preventing a rival liquor company from using a dripping wax seal on its tequilas sold in the U.S., ending a seven-year legal fight over the distinctive bottle- topper.

Friday’s ruling caps a lawsuit between Maker’s Mark owner Fortune Brands Inc. (FO) and two competitors, Diageo PLC’s (DEO) North American unit and Casa Cuervo, over the trademarked wax seal. Mexico-based Cuervo used a dripping red wax seal on special bottles of its Reserva tequila, which was distributed by U.K.-based Diageo.

Heyburn’s ruling barred the companies from using the seal but didn’t award damages to Maker’s Mark.

Calls and emails to spokesmen for Maker’s Mark, Diageo and Cuervo weren’t immediately returned Friday, the AP says.

University of Kentucky Wildcats fans are reaching a fevered pitch, and the April 9 John Calipari Maker’s Mark bottle signing at Keeneland is the hot ticket.

So hot that Keeneland has signed on with Ticketmaster to handle the lottery-type distribution of tickets.

Now, rather than a live lottery drawing prior to the bottle signing at the Keene Barn and Entertainment Center Keeneland is working with Ticketmaster to conduct an online distribution on April 3 beginning at 10 a.m. of 1,200 tickets allowing one ticket per customer. Fans should go to ticketmaster.com on April 3 (type “Keeneland” in the search box to find the direct link).

The Ticketmaster page will not be available until a few days before the sale. You will not be able to place your order until 10am on April 3rd, 2010.

The April 9 signing is limited to one 2010 commemorative bottle per person, with no other memorabilia or souvenir items allowed.

“Many events are now utilizing online ticketing distribution systems. We believe that utilizing such a system in this case will help us ensure a safe, convenient and more enjoyable process for all concerned”, said Keeneland President and CEO Nick Nicholson.

The face value of the ticket is free; however, there will be a $1 handling fee through Ticketmaster. Keeneland will, in turn, make a $1,200 contribution to Galilean Children’s Home in Liberty, Kentucky the charity of choice for this year’s Maker’s Mark Ambassadors. Find out more about Galilean Children’s Home at galileanhome.org

Patrons can claim their tickets in person beginning Tuesday, April 6 at Keeneland’s drive thru wagering booths between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. In order to claim the ticket, fans must bring a copy of their online receipt as confirmation and a photo ID. Participants also may be able to pick up their tickets inside of Keeneland’s South Gate Thursday evening, April 8th, beginning at 6 p.m.

Ticket holders must be in line no later than 7:00 a.m. on Friday, April 9. The commemorative ticket will designate the specific place in line for each participant. The signing – with Coach Calipari, Nicholson and Bill Samuels of Maker’s Mark – will start at 8 a.m.

Keeneland also is allowing ticketholders to camp out overnight, if they desire, under the grandstand beginning Thursday evening, following that day’s races.

A picture of the bottle of new Maker’s Mark bourbon, Maker’s 46 which is scheduled to be released soon, showed up on the Maker’s Mark Facebook page yesterday. The posting said, “We took a few test shots of the new Maker’s 46 bottle a couple of days ago. Thought you might like a sneak peek”!

The bottle continues with the Maker’s Mark trademark red wax and seal, but sheds the paper label and gets a little more slim and sexy than the traditional Maker’s bottle.

Ambassadors will get a chance to sample the new product at the distillery for the first time on April 10, Ambassador Homecoming Day. As far as Bourbon Buzz is aware, an official public launch date for the new bourbon has not been announced. Look for it to hit shelves before the end of Spring.

Building on the past success of the Maker’s Mark/Keeneland charitable bottle series that supports projects at the University of Kentucky, Maker’s Mark and Keeneland are continuing the program with the celebration of UK basketball coach John Calipari, whose likeness will be featured on the bottle this spring.

The popular coach will team up with University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Maker’s Mark and Keeneland to raise money for a unique extension program highlighting the performing arts for elementary school children throughout the Commonwealth.

“It’s an honor to team with Maker’s Mark and the university in this unique fund raising opportunity to help benefit the UK Symphony Orchestra Outreach Program,” said Coach Calipari. “I’m not sure the world is ready for my face on a bottle, but if it helps the university, I’m all for it. I hope all our great fans will support this worthy effort.”

Maker’s Mark will donate proceeds from the sales – estimated to be about $300,000 from 24,000 bottles – to an extension program that is bringing the UK Symphony Orchestra and students from the UK School of Music into public schools and communities throughout Kentucky. UK is in the process of securing matching grants.

Bottles will hit the shelves in Kentucky only, on April 2nd, 2010. Suggested retail price of $49 if retailers take their normal mark-up.

A bottle signing, scheduled the day of the Grade-1 Maker’s Mark Mile, will be held Friday, April 9, trackside at Keeneland, with Calipari, Samuels and Nicholson. In an effort to better accommodate the growing legion of fans who attend the Maker’s Mark bottle signing at Keeneland, a few guidelines and a new ticketing procedure is being established. Details on the ticket procedure for the bottle signing will follow later this month from Keeneland.

Maker’s Mark President Bill Samuels Jr. said, “John Calipari brings so much excitement to Kentucky and he deserves to be honored for the phenomenal results he achieved with the men’s basketball program in such a short period of time. More important is his dedication to the betterment of the University of Kentucky as an educational institution and achieving Dr. Todd’s goals for UK. Cal’s enthusiasm is contagious and is a wonderful way to show how the success of his basketball program can support the greater good of the university and education throughout the Commonwealth.”

Check out the Calipari Foundation website for more information about obtaining a guaranteed ticket for the bottle signing this spring. Ebay auctions are currently under way for some of these guaranteed tickets.

For the first time, the Maker’s Mark bottle, which commemorates the Lane’s End Stakes at Turfway Park, will honor an entire team: the 1990 World Series champion Cincinnati Reds. This limited edition bottle is the seventh in a series honoring Turfway’s Kentucky Derby prep race.

The 2010 bottle pays tribute to the 20th anniversary of the Reds’ wire-to-wire season and stunning four-game sweep of the Oakland A’s. The label of the 375 ml bottle features the famous photo, taken by then director of publicity Jon Braude, of the champions celebrating on the field. The bottle is hand-numbered and dipped in red wax.

Led by team captain Barry Larkin, the 1990 Reds spent the entire regular season in first place, defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in six games to take the National League title, and then tore into the heavily favored A’s. Larkin, Eric Davis, Chris Sabo, Paul O’Neill, and Billy Hatcher powered the team at the plate, while Jose Rijo, Tom Browning, Jack Armstrong, Danny Jackson, and the bullpen’s Nasty Boys—Rob Dibble, Norm Charlton, and Randy Myers—intimidated opponents from the mound.

Maker’s Mark is producing an unprecedented number, 8000, of these commemorative bottles, the most since the series started in 2004. The bottles are to go on sale Friday, March 19 and will retail for about $24 depending on the retail outlet. Proceeds from sales will benefit the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.

The bottle signing at Turfway Park is Saturday, March 27, the morning of the Lane’s End Stakes. The signing is from 8 AM to 11 AM at Turfway Park, Gate B. 400 free tickets will be distributed on a first come-first served basis, to persons 21 years and older and one ticket per person. Each ticketholder may bring two of the 2010 bottles to be autographed.

The 39th running of the Grade II Lane’s End Stakes is a 1 1/8-mile race for Thoroughbreds aiming for the Kentucky Derby. With its $500,000 purse, the race virtually guarantees the winner a spot in the Derby field, which is limited to 20 starters. This year’s Lane’s End Stakes is set for Saturday, March 27, at Turfway Park. Tickets for the race range from general admission at $10 to the Maker’s Mark VIP Tent at $175 and are available by calling (859) 371-0200.

The Lane’s End Stakes is sponsored by Lane’s End of Versailles, Kentucky., one of the world’s leading Thoroughbred operations and first among North America’s stud farms for 10 years, seven consecutively. The farm stands such influential stallions as A. P. Indy, Smart Strike, Kingmambo, and two-time Horse of the Year Curlin. Lane’s End is owned by William S. Farish, former United States ambassador to the Court of St. James’s. Farish was honored earlier this year with the Eclipse Award of Merit for outstanding lifetime achievement in the Thoroughbred industry.

As part of the bottle introduction, the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will host a grand opening celebration of its new exhibit: 1990-A Celebration of the 1990 World Champion Cincinnati Reds on March 25 at the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. Reds Hall of Famers and select members of the 1990 team will be in attendance. The evening will consist of dinner and a question and answer session with the 1990 players. Admission is $80 for the general public. Reds Hall of Fame members and Maker’s Mark Ambassadors may purchase tickets at the discounted price of $70. Tickets are available for purchase by calling 513-765-7923.

The rumors about the new Maker’s Mark bourbon have been flying for some time now. Bill Samuels has finally addressed the matter in the latest news to Ambassadors and Kevin Smith posted proof info and tasting notes to the Maker’s Mark Blog. See the letter and posts below:

————————–

Dear Ambassador,

Some of you may have heard the rumor that Kevin Smith, Master Distiller for Maker’s Mark, has been working on a secret project here at the distillery. You heard right.

After years of prodding from Maker’s Mark brand friends, bourbon lovers, taste-makers and, yes, even you Ambassadors, Kevin and I looked at each other and said, “Well, let’s see what we can do.”

Make no mistake, we weren’t interested in finding which barrel held at the right light on the proper floor of a special warehouse could be packaged and shipped to stores nationwide. What we were trying to do was go after a specific taste. We had very narrow parameters and went after this new idea the way my dad did when he burned the old Samuels’ family mash bill and created Maker’s Mark.

Almost a year and a half later, Kevin comes back to me and says he thinks he’s done it.

Boy, has he ever. Totally amazing new stuff. I mean wow. WOW!

The first step is to get blow back from the bourbon opinionaters, journalists, spirits bloggers, whisky club organizers and, yes, from our Ambassadors. Think of this as either a gut-check or, more bluntly as a disaster check.

Here’s where our taste-making Ambassadors come in. You have already received your invite to Thoroughbreds and Redheads weekend, April 9 and 10. I want you to know that we’ll be sampling our new product at the distillery for the first time on April 10, Ambassador Homecoming Day. Even if you decide not to spend the whole weekend with us, we hope you’ll join us for this momentous occasion.

Cheers!
Bill

—————————–

Dear Friends,

I am very excited to let everyone in on a little secret. We have been experimenting with a few things down here at the distillery, and we think we have stumbled onto a bourbon expression worth telling you about. The flavor is incredible. It has an intense, sweet, oaky toast aroma and, at 94 proof, it is unbelievably smooth.

Our new baby is a real revolution, with no alcohol nose or taste, and the big, bold flavors come through without a bitter aftertaste. Imagine oak-sweet vanillas, creamy flavors and a long and luscious texture that coats the front of the tongue. Let me say it this way: the taste is pleasingly intense!

Brad Boswell, President of Independent Stave, and I collaborated to create a process that would marry the flavor of Maker’s Mark with the unique flavors found when oak is heated sizzling hot, blistering the wood on the outside, while locking in the flavor in the middle.

It’s really something folks. I’ve been working on this for a year and a half, and it absolutely defies description. I guess that’s why we’re having such a hard time figuring out what to call it.